AGENDA: AMERICA RESPONDS/ WWII HOMEFRONT Vocabulary Quiz Friday

So how does America respond?  ISOLATION! Leave us out of it!  BUT – our relief agencies did deliver over $500,000,000 in food and other relief materials.  But we need our money!  Dawes Act (1924) we give money to Germany  Germany pays back England and France  England and France pay us back (essentially we’re paying ourselves back!)

US Response  Neutrality Acts- 1935, 1936, 1937  Cannot trade with military aggressive nations, travel on ships of countries at war or loan them money  “Moral Embargo” with Italy  Responding economically to Italy’s aggression (so instead of selling them munitions, we sold them oil, copper and scrap metal so that Italy could make war materials themselves)

US Response  Trying to maintain neutrality as Franco takes power in Spain  Issued Stimson Doctrine to Japanese  “We don’t like what you’re doing Japan! But we’re staying out of it.”  “Quarantine Speech” by FDR  As aggression continued in Asia and Europe, FDR became more concerned- BUT no action accompanied the speech.

“The epidemic of world lawlessness is spreading. When an epidemic of physical disease starts to spread, the community approves and joins in a quarantine of the patients in order to protect the health of the community against the spread of the disease..”

US Actions- Road to War  Debating neutrality at start of war- it’s becoming more complicated  Cash and Carry  FDR: If we want to continue neutrality we need to help Allies or we’ll be in danger!  Sell weapons to Allies as long as paid in cash and the Allies transport them across the Atlantic  American public thinks Hitler needs to be defeated BUT they want to stay out of war

FDR State of the Union January 6, 1941 In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression-- everywhere in the world.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. FDR State of the Union January 6, 1941

The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants-- everywhere in the world. FDR State of the Union January 6, 1941

The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor-- anywhere in the world. FDR State of the Union January 6, 1941 Are these worth fighting for? Do we fight?

US Actions- Road to War  Hitler is gaining power and territory  Britain was lone power fighting off Germany  Atlantic Charter- August 1941  British PM Churchill meets with FDR  Stated no desire for territory and full support for rights of all peoples to choose their government

US Actions- Road to War  Lend-Lease Act  Isolationist feelings wavering as France fell to Germany  We’ll “loan” you weapons (replace cash and carry)  Oct Germany sinks 2 ships killing about 100 Americans as we deliver weapons

US Actions- Road to War  Japan, General Tojo pursuing aggressive expansion in Asia  Tensions increased and US enacted some economic sanctions  Japan attacks Pearl Harbor  December 7, 1941  Over 2,300 Americans killed

Pearl Harbor  “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan…No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.”

US Declares War  Allied Powers  US  Great Britain  France  Axis Powers  Japan  Germany  Italy

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